Stop me if you’ve heard this before. There was a graded turf stakes at Monmouth Park July 18 and two fillies trained by Chad Brown dueled through the final sixteenth to finish 1-2.

Decorated Invader’s victory in the $145,500 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) left trainer Christophe Clement gushing July 18 at Saratoga Race Course.

The Prix d’Ispahan (G1) has been the long-term goal for Persian King since returning from an injury-enforced layoff in June.

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane have now taken half of the first four Irish classics by winning the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) with Siskin and now Even So in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) July 18.

Sackatoga Stable’s Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tiz the Law breezed five furlongs in :59.63 July 18, marking his first work at Saratoga Race Course this summer. The move was in preparation for the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1).

Acting upon the recommendation of the Chief Commission Veterinarian of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, Delaware Park has cancelled the live racing card scheduled for Monday, July 20th, due to the excessive heat forecasted for the region.

Rosario Montanez, unseated in the first race at Laurel Park July 17, “broke bones in his back and has blood on his brain” and is scheduled for surgery July 18, agent Joe Rocco said Saturday morning.

Brereton C. Jones’ homebred Indian Pride earned her first stakes win and ensured trainer Chad Brown swept the July 17 stakes double at Saratoga Race Course.

Qous, the first foal out of dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) victress Treve, opened his account at Chantilly where he landed the Prix du Mont Alta over 1 5/16 miles by a short neck in his second outing July 17.

Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark announced the 2020 limited-edition Maker’s Mark bottle from the Charity for Champions program, which began in 2015, with the goal of raising money for Thoroughbred industry charities. 

There seems to be no end to the supply chain of fabulous fillies coming out of Jessica Harrington’s barn, and the latest to stake a classic claim is Cayenne Pepper, who will contest the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) at a 1 1/2 miles July 18 at Newmarket.

An equipment change could lead to an elevated performance from stakes-winning Speaktomeofsummer when she faces an evenly matched group of 3-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 19.

Lone Star Park, which suspended racing after the first race July 5 after being notified an employee involved in racing operations tested positive for COVID-19, will resume racing July 19, according to Kym Koch Thompson, a track spokesperson.

Bob Baffert, Tom Ryan, Gavin Murphy, Sol Kumin, Jack Wolf, and more, will be at Monmouth Park either in person or in spirit July 18 when Authentic headlines the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) as a 4-5 morning-line favorite.

Jockey Sheldon Russell, the leading rider at Laurel Park’s current summer meet, will miss about a month with a broken right wrist suffered in a gate mishap July 16 at Delaware Park.

Sharing and Mean Mary, two of trainer Graham Motion’s top-class turf fillies, are likely headed to opposite coasts for grade 1 races next month, with Sharing to the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) Aug. 23 and Mean Mary to the Diana Stakes (G1T) that same day.

Dave Litfin analyzes the Saturday stakes action from Saratoga and Monmouth Park.